5 ways that HGTV can make my job easier.

There are just as many opinions on this topic as there are belly buttons... no two agents work with the exact same clients, in the exact same market, or have the exact same experiences. From my point of view, however, HGTV makes my job easier.

Buyers are more willing to make a buying decision after seeing three homes, because that's what they've been trained to do by HGTV.

Buyers are more comfortable relying on me to negotiate their offer with the listing agent, because that's what they've seen on HGTV.

Buyers are more likely to consider a less-than-perfect home, because they've seen on HGTV how easy it is to re-do a home completely in just 30 minutes. (Tongue in cheek, of course.)

Sellers are more willing to make repairs and updates prior to putting their homes on the market, because that's what home sellers do on HGTV.

Sellers are more likely to invest in staging, because they've seen the before and after difference of staging on HGTV.

HGTV isn't going away any time soon, so we might as well focus on the ways their shows can help us. That makes it easier for us to dismiss the things that may be different in our own market, such as the crowds that always visit that first open house (which rarely happens in my market).

We can learn a lot by asking buyers which show is their favorite.

If it's Property Brothers, for example, I ask if they have anyone to transform a "handyman special" for them. If their answer is "No," then I would ask if they'd prefer to buy one in "before" or "after" condition.

If they prefer Love It or List It, I now ask if they want to stay in their own neighborhood when they move, the way many home owners do on that show. If not, I ask every potential home buyer what they like or dislike about their current neighborhood, because neighborhood does seem to trump home features on Love It or List It. In fact, most Crofton area home sellers really do want to stay in the area - perhaps a bigger or smaller home - unless they're relocating out of the area.

I suggest you tune into HGTV while you're working at the computer and keep one eye on it while you're going down your to-do list... It's a good way to become familiar with what your next home buyer or seller is watching. Chances are it will impact your next home sale!

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This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton.

I catch glimpses of both but can't stand to sit and watch. Changing things in midstream drives me crazy. And like bringing a wall out 6" is going to make that big a difference and cost how much? I just go on a rant when they say well if we add this small bath you won't be able to get that ugly butt sofa. Furniture budget to me would be !! See not even watching either show and already got me riled. Great post though!! Some real some scripted!

Thanks for sharing a different and positive perspective on HGTV Margaret. it makes sense to force myself to watch real estate related shows so I can ask my buyers and sellers when we first meet if they watch these shows and what their expectations are after doing so.

Margaret Woda You are spot on about HGTV and my son is living proof. He was commissioned to design and build a custom deck for a fix and flip investor back in '07 that was featured on HGTV.

It has subsequently catapulted his business dramatically into the high end remodeling and new build custom home business. No doubt about it. HGTV is an inspiration to a huge market of potential buyers and/or sellers not to mention the myriad RE industry stakeholders

What it doesn't help is showing home inspectors rattling off repair costs for everything from a faucet repair to a brand new kitchen makeover. How much for this, how much for that. I make it really clear that that is a TV staged show.

We don't get the DIY network, Teresa Cooper, so that doesn't come into the equation for me. I'm sure it's frustrating.

Theresa Akin, you've got me smiling. But the truth is that our clients are watching and I feel it just makes sense for us to know what they're watching and develop scripts around it to help us to help them.

I really can't stand the two HGTV staples, Property Brothers and Love it or List It, Marte Cliff, but I felt it was important to watch enough of them to know what my clients were watching. It really has helped me in the first appointment and throughout the transaction to be able to tie in my minor closes with their HGTV habit.

Thank you, Jill Sackler.

Making my life easier is not what they have in mind, Rich Jacobson, but they do. You might as well make lemonade!

What a missed opportunity, Diana Dahlberg! It's good to know your clients' take-away from those shows so you can 1) use them to your advantage and 2) dispel any myths.

That's been my experience, Kat Palmiotti!

I like that channel, too, Ginger Harper - but it doesn't help me to connect with clients and list or sell houses. Hey, we all have our own way of doing things, right?

Amen, Joan Cox! Seriously, HGTV watchers don't usually expect to look at 100 homes because they don't think it should be that hard. Many of my HGTV fans have chosen a home the first day we looked, making my job a LOT easier than it is with buyers who expect to see every home on the market before making a decision.

Congratulations, Noeleen Duffy, you're on the verge of 10,000 points! I remember how excited I was when that happened, and each 10,000 after that. I just clicked "follow" and hope to get to know you as you go after your next 10,000.

Congratulations to your son, John DL Arendsen. That's awesome! The first time I became aware of the HGTV effect on my buyers was over 10 years ago when a home buyer said to me, "Aren't you going to say YOU GOT THE HOUSE!" like they do on HGTV? You'd better believe that was a wake-up call for me, and I've used those words ever since. That's when I started watching that network more often... then I started developing scripts for different situations based on the different shows.

Amen, Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR! We might as well take advantage of what our clients are learning from HGTV, right? (And immediately dispel the myths.)

One of the things I enjoy about those shows, DALIA KIBBY, is that they don't require concentration. I can have them on in the background while I work at my computer and still pick up on what they're doing.

I'll bet a lot more people are getting home inspections than before HGTV, after seeing the kinds of problems that can be uncovered, @Scott Seaton. (Sorry, but I can't seem to tag you, Scott.)

The topic of HGTV is a part of my 5 person speak person panel where we discuss why the public is so keyed into watching and learning about RE on TV. The public is so ingrained into watch it that they think it's gospel!

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